Some Particular Evil

Chapter 53

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

A s Mrs Bennet listened to Elizabeth’s account of her last month’s adventure, she seemed to only register the fact that Mr Darcy and her now favourite daughter had exchanged letters, and ridden in a carriage alone together. As if the horrifying events at Rosings had never happened, Mrs Bennet seized on to Elizabeth’s clandestine correspondence with a gentleman not her husband and insisted that the man procure a licence.

Of course, Darcy, who had been in love with Elizabeth Bennet for nigh on six months, was only too glad to comply, though Elizabeth would have been happy to have a genuine courtship while the banns were being read. Alas, Elizabeth was forced to bow to her mother’s wishes, and a very merry ceremony took place at Longbourn chapel not a fortnight after the events at Matlock House.

The happiness of the groom was only exceeded by that of his new mother, whom he was beginning to like very much now that he had her approval. While she did give her opinions rather freely, rarely was she wrong, he found. Reflecting on her words in the fall, he saw that she had every reason at the time to expect a match between Jane and Bingley. Now that he was their wealthy saviour, her daughters would, indeed, be thrown into the paths of other rich men.

Elizabeth leant into him during the wedding breakfast to discreetly point out one such daughter and one such rich gentleman. Though Darcy could hardly believe that the colonel was ready to give his heart as freely as he had done only a month before, he could easily foresee such readiness coming on rapidly. He chose not to take a measure of his sister Jane’s interest in the colonel-cum-landowner, as Elizabeth had informed him that the lady was blessed with a composure of temper that might easily disguise great strength of feeling. They had time.

He looked over to his bride, whose fine eyes enchanted him afresh. Darcy could not wait to spend the rest of his life with her.

It was decided quickly that the newly married couple would spend the rest of the spring in town, as Elizabeth had had no time before the ceremony to procure a wedding trousseau.

While Jane and Elizabeth spent their days shopping and getting to know Lady Matlock and Georgiana, the gentlemen were busy with more trying pursuits. There was the coroner’s inquest regarding Wickham’s death, which required interviews and witness statements and legal consultations. There were the attempts to circumnavigate the scandal that inevitably surrounded such a shocking occurrence, and the need for Darcy to buoy up Lord Matlock’s reputation in order for him to maintain his place of respect in society.

Fitzwilliam had been in almost daily consultation with Sir Lewis’s solicitor in an effort to legally and rightfully secure Rosings Park and the remainder of the man’s fortune. With Anne imprisoned in the belly of Bedlam for the rest of her life, there was no doubt that she was truly unable to manage the estate.

Lady Catherine was to be remanded to the dower house. She would have control only over her small regiment of servants and ply her advice only upon those who visited her of their own free will. She would not be attended by her nephews any more than necessary.

The latest scene in this horrific drama had been the inquests and trials of Nigel, Horace, and Mrs Younge. Being that none of them had actually killed anyone, nor were they able to get their hands on Darcy or Georgiana to kidnap either of them, the courts decided they did not deserve the noose. Instead, they were all to be packed off to Australia, set to depart within the week. Elizabeth only hoped they would somehow be forced to share a cell, for six months or more in one another’s company in tight ship’s quarters would serve them all right.

When Darcy and Fitzwilliam informed the party of the decision of the courts as they awaited their meal one evening, Jane sighed. “I am just glad it is all over. It certainly has turned out well for you, Lizzy. I could not be happier.”

“Not everyone was so happy. Why, Bingley was positively Friday-faced the whole day of the wedding,” Fitzwilliam volunteered. “Not even Mrs Bennet’s strawberry tarts could pull him from his blue devils.”

Elizabeth had certainly seen it. Bingley had watched with clear chagrin as Jane moved through the room, assisting her mother, gently chiding her younger sisters, and finally, settling herself at her seat next to Fitzwilliam during the wedding breakfast. Mr Bingley could not keep his eyes off of Jane as she conversed with, laughed with, and even blushed prettily for Fitzwilliam. Friday-faced he certainly was.

Cajoling Miss Darcy into continuing her lessons or eating or leaving her room after the events at Matlock House was a challenge. Between Darcy’s tender concern and Elizabeth’s playful and sincere overtures of friendship, Georgiana soon began to recover her spirits.

What may have been most helpful, however, was Darcy’s having conscripted Jane’s assistance. While claiming that Jane’s presence would assist Elizabeth in adjusting to her new role as mistress of Darcy House, the pair knew that her gentle presence would make Georgiana feel comfortable. Jane and Georgiana began taking daily constitutionals along the streets of Mayfair, a very contented Sarah trailing behind them for propriety. They even began going so far as the Serpentine bridge in Hyde Park, though only during the less-fashionable hours. It was no surprise to Elizabeth when, as soon as he heard of it, Fitzwilliam took it upon himself to offer the two ladies his protection on these outings.

Naturally, after providing such a service, the gentleman would be invited in for tea. And it never failed that, during the course of that short repast, the master of the house would touch upon something that only the former colonel could assist him with. After having done Darcy such service, whatever it was, it was only right that Fitzwilliam should be asked to stay to dine, of course. So, it often happened that Fitzwilliam would spend the entirety of his afternoon at Darcy House.

If Elizabeth had thought she noted a certain energy between Jane and the former colonel at her wedding, it was nothing compared to the sparks that flew between the pair as the weeks went by at Darcy House. Fitzwilliam was as charming and easy to talk to as ever, and Jane blossomed in his company. Her tranquil poise was no longer displayed in silence, but she began to laugh, to volunteer stories, and even, to Elizabeth’s astonishment, to give opinions that differed from those of her suitor. Fitzwilliam, too, was wont to banter with her and even go so far as to contradict her innate sweetness and kindly inform her that not everyone was as intrinsically good as she. Elizabeth was gratified to no end that, in addition to her own blissful attachment, her sister was receiving the attention she deserved—and from a loyal, steadfast man whose eyes would not flit from one angelic lady to another.

Her husband had told her he was unsure about encouraging the burgeoning romance so soon after their having met, and Elizabeth could agree with him to some extent. However, it seemed Fitzwilliam’s mind was made up within a matter of weeks, for when Mr Bingley showed up at Darcy House for what he claimed was a social call and informed the party that his courtship with Miss Haversham had not been fruitful, hinting that the young lady, while lovely, lacked a certain sense of serenity which he felt he needed in a wife, the master of Rosings wasted no time in procuring Jane’s promise to become its mistress.

By the time the banns were read for Jane and Fitzwilliam, Georgiana was no longer weeping over George Wickham. In fact, she was all smiles when she alighted from the well-sprung Darcy coach, allowing her brother to hand her down as she let her eyes rove over the impressive glazings that graced the grand facade of Rosings Park. Jane had wished to marry from her new home, and Mrs Bennet could not but revel in giving away her most beautiful daughter in such a lavish setting. Lord and Lady Matlock and the Bennets would be arriving for the wedding today as well, and Georgiana was eager to see the happy faces of all in attendance.

Unfortunately, it completely slipped the minds of the bride and groom to invite the Bingleys. Mr Bingley’s last call had been his final call, apparently having been mortified to learn of Jane’s acceptance of a gentleman of almost twice his consequence immediately after his having hinted at his renewed interest. Miss Bingley, however, along with her vapid sister Mrs Hurst, had wasted no time in paying their respects to the future daughter of the Earl of Matlock, wishing her all the joy in the world and intimating that they always knew she would make a fine match.

“It has been most unkind of you to neglect us so. Why, we have been positively bereft without your company, dearest Jane! Of course, now that you will be married to the son of Lord Matlock, I imagine we might await an invitation for supper with the earl and countess.”

When Jane instead invited them to take their leave many minutes before the customary quarter of an hour was up, it was made clear that the connexion was severed permanently. The venom dripping from Miss Bingley’s scowling smile was not lost on Jane or Elizabeth, but neither sister could bring themselves to regard it.

Tom-Tom, having come to Kent as the Darcys’ tiger, soon showed a real talent for horse husbandry. Thus, it was decided that he should stay on with Jem and Molly Scarlett, whose family would soon be removed from the dilapidated cottage Lady Catherine had made them suffer. Fitzwilliam had commissioned modern homes for all the tenants. Darcy could not have been more satisfied with this turn of events, to know his small friend would have, not just a home, but a family. It was more than he could have asked for.

Soon came the day of the wedding. Elizabeth beamed almost as brightly as the bride as she watched Jane exchange vows at Hunsford Chapel with one of the best men she knew. She foresaw years of happiness ahead for the couple, which was more than deserved for both.

Their joy was only surpassed by that of her mother, who relished the prospect of spending summers in Derbyshire and winters in the milder climes of Kent while watching her two eldest daughters clothe themselves in the finest silks and lace and ordering armies of servants about at their every whim. The prospect of handing Longbourn over to Charlotte Lucas upon the birth of a son no longer seemed to vex the woman. Mr Bennet, having never cared much for the estate outside of his book-room, was happy to exchange it for the libraries at Rosings and Pemberley, where he could sit in quiet solitude for hours at a time with his books and brandy. And unlike her first son-in-law, Mrs Bennet’s new son had won her fast and free approval with his jovial manner and charming conversation.